10 Movies That Had A Bigger Impact Than You Realise

6. Music And Image Intricately Linked - King Kong

What it's known for: Although when compared to what subsequently was achieved looking rather unrealistic, it's hard not to marvel at the visual effects in the 1933 King Kong. Not since the ground-breaking The Lost World in 1925 had stop-motion creatures appeared in a live-action movie and here things were pushed to technical extremes; the effects looked great (the T-Rex fight is a standout) and there was actual interaction between the fake ape and the real actors. What it's also changed: So much focus is put on the visuals of King Kong that many people miss that its real breakthrough was in its sound. The studio originally wanted the movie's soundtrack to be compiled from pre-existing recordings, but director-producer Merian C. Cooper overthrew their decision, commissioning Max Steiner to create an original score. Good thing he did, because was Steiner delivered was revolutionary. He pushed the new (for film) fad of leitmotifs (recurring themes that denote a certain character or place - think Imperial March for Darth Vader) and, for the first time, had music actually react to what was going on screen - when Kong tickles Ann the music replicates it.